Bio for Pastor Curtis W. Frye, Jr. In Ephesians 4:11-12, the following words that have profoundly affected my life. The passage reads: "It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be Pastors and teachers; to prepare Gods people for works of service so the body of Christ may be built up.”  While I dare not exalt myself beyond that which God would have me to be, I am truly blessed that God assigns such gifts and He has chosen me to be both Pastor and Spiritual Teacher of The Mashpee Baptist Church. Through the power of Christ, I serve both as an Evangelist and an Apostle who will boldly proclaim the Word of God at any place, any time, and to whomever is within the sound of my voice. Matthew 22:14 includes the words: "For many are called but few are chosen."I am blessed because, not only did God choose me to lead, but He also chose The Mashpee Baptist Church to be the vehicle from which I will lead! I have lived on Cape Cod most of my life. One of 10 children, I am the son of former Mashpee Police Chief and Selectman, Curtis Frye, Sr. and my beloved Mother, the late Clarice Bearse Frye. I attended Wareham High School until a near-fatal auto accident disrupted my studies. Originally pronounced dead that fateful day, I survived to endure a year-long recovery period, wracked by both the pain of that accident and the premature death of my dear Mother. Thereafter, I became a bitter young man and to compensate for my loss, devoted most of my energies to the worldly aspects of secular life. I lived hard, played hard, and fought hard, having honed my martial arts skills to the level of a true champion. I used my superior combat skills in even more sinister ways as well. In fact, I regret to state that I associated with some of the most dangerous individuals in New England for several years. Despite the emotional loss and physical pain I had endured, I maintained a work ethic that enabled me to always remain employed.  I was hired to supervise the ground crew at Island Airlines back in the 90’s and rose to the position of Safety Officer, where I was responsible for the preservation of life and equipment for the entire organization. Having been reared in a Christian home, I knew God but refused to serve and worship Him. The writer of First Timothy, 5:25 noted: "Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand," which I interpret to mean that God knowsourpotential even when we don’t acknowledge it. Eventually, like Job, I finally accepted the hardships God had allowed to befall me. The Heavenly Father reached out and touched me in such a manner that I finally allowed Christ BACK into my life. With renewed vigor, I returned to a church in Swansea, MA, and then attended the Nazarene Church in Falmouth, MA and the Lord eventually led my wife Joyce and me to Mashpee Baptist Church (MBC), where after a time, the Church voted me in as a Deacon. I decided to go back to school to receive my diploma. At Fifty years of age I had done a lot of scary things in life but that was one of the scariest. During that time I stayed on my kneesseeking help from my Lord.  I didn’t even know why I was going back to school but now realize that God had a plan for my life. I could not have done it without His help. The elements of God’s plan began to reveal themselves shortly after I began attending MBC. I was selected to become Associate Pastor. I attended Liberty University and went on to complete their training program for Pastors. The Church was going through a difficult time, my wife and I prayed, and thought it was time to leave MBC. We made a monetary deposit on a house in Michigan, Joyce found a great job, and we put our house up for sale but the property wouldn’t sell. I couldn’t figure out why, even though people in the Church were telling me that I should stay here for my people (Wampanoag Tribe).  My mind was made up. We were leaving for Michigan! But I couldn’t sleep and couldn’t work. Finally, I went home one day, walked into my office, knelt down and began to pray. I realized God didn’t want me to sell this house. In June 2007, I was installed as Pastor of the MBC. From that time until the present, our Church attendance has continued to grow. Today between 80 and 100 worshipers regularly attend and many are Wampanoag. Until approximately three years ago my ministry extended outside of the Mashpee Baptist Church as well. I volunteered for many events, visited the sick and jailed prisoners, and presided during civic functions such as memorial services for military veterans. Mindful of my call to service, I cite Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in Heaven.” If I stopped there you would think, “what a wonderful story” but there’s more.I would have continued on that path of giving my all to the Lord in service but I began to have problems physically and went to the doctor to see what was going on.  At that time I was diagnosed with kidney disease and was already in renal failure.  I began a regiment of testing and meeting with specialist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston to see what the best course of action was for my case. After reviewing all the test results it was decided that the normal course of action, which would have been wrist surgery (vascular vein mapping), would not work because of the damage the kidney disease had already done to my blood vessels and heart.  They didn’t think I would live through that kind of surgery. So I am doing what is known as cycler dialysis, which is slower and gentler on the system.  However it is more time consuming.  It takes about 11.5 hours each day to complete the dialysis.  It fills the stomach (which is now my kidney) with 5-6 lbs. of fluid and that fluid draws out the infirmities in my body, because my kidney can no longer perform that function.  My grueling schedule consist of being disconnected from the machine after 9.5 hours, recording my weight, blood pressure, sugar, cycle numbers, and ultra filtration.  I take a shot of lantus in one arm and novalog in the other arm.  Then I take my morning pills.  On Wednesdays I add a shot for anemia.  After all of that I have to break down the machine and disinfect it and the area around it.  My brother (thank God for him) carries the supplies for the machine upstairs.  Three hours later I do my first CAPD with exchange and prep in one hour.  In the mid- afternoon comes the 2nd CAPD with exchange and prep.  In the late afternoon I put together the dialysis machine and again I have to disinfect the machine and area.  Before hooking up to the machine I take the shots of navolog and lantus and 7 pills orally and I am hooked up to the dialysis machine by 8 pm.  I began this process in August of last year.  The side effects of this are nausea, constipation, weakness, hiccups, and itchy skin.  According to the Doctors the life expectancy of a dialysis patient is 3-5 years.  For a person with no kidney function and O-positive blood type, the time on the waiting listis approximately nine years because O-positive blood is common and that means a longer waiting list.  Some of the complications of this kind of procedure I have already experienced.  My eyesight is being affected because of blood vessels bursting and my heart has been severely damaged.  I experience severe pain on standing, walking, and sometimes sitting for long periods of time.  Because the dialysis takes so long I am confined to my home and can’t go anywhere.  My activities at the Church have had to be significantly curtailed.  I have to stay close to the machine in case of complications.  Through all of this I am praying that the alarms don’t go off in the middle of the night that signals trouble with the equipment or that my system is having problems with the process, which has happened.  What does all this mean to my Spiritual life, the life of the Mashpee Baptist Church, and my personal life?  We have all had to lean on The Lord for strength, understanding, and patience.  He promised “He would never leave us or forsake us,”Hebrews 3:5 and some days I only have strength to hold on to thatpromise.  Each day that I go through this process my physical strength is weakened but my spiritual strength says “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!”Philippians 4:13.I have seen His plan unfold in my life in ways that no man can accomplish so I know that the Lord holds my past, my present, and my future in His capable hands.  I agree with the songwriter,“Where can I go but to the Lord?” Because I have to be on the dialysis machine for so many hours each day, I have that much time to pray and that much time to prepare for the message the Lord gives to me to bring to my people each week. My wife and I have sensed His nearness to us, and we trust the Lord and His plan for our lives.  Of course we have moments of apprehension because we’re human but through it all we’ve learned to trust Him completely.  I will preach, teach, and do what I can to serve the Lord until He takes me home, heals my body, or provides a kidney donor.  At this time, I am praying for a healing or a donor.  I feel the Lord has more for me to do at MBC, in the Town of Mashpee, and beyond.  After manyyears of living a worldly life, I am now delighted that God has allowed me to “represent” Him. I will gladly serve others that He might be glorified. John 15:8 reads: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. Further, I feel that God would still have me serve those who have not heard His call as well as those within His household and I take every opportunity, even under these circumstances, to fulfill His calling in my life.